Safety-razor



B. AMES. SAFETY RAZOR. APPLICATION FILED AUGJG. i917.

1,305, 832. Patented June 3, 1919.

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BUTLER AMES, F LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAFETY-RAZOR.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1919.

Application led August 16, 1917. Serial No. 186,501.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BUTLER AMES, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inSafety-Razors,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to guarded cutting devices such as safety razorsand it has for its principal object the ready adjustment of the cuttingblade and guard relatively to each other whereby either a light or aheavy cut may be taken and whereby an unsymmetrical blade may beuniformly adjusted relatively tothe guard. Other objects of theinvention are to render adjustable devices of the character disclosed inmy prior applications, Sr. No. 163,067, filed April 18, 1917; Sr. No.173,110, June 6, 1917; Sr. No. 173,841, June 9, 1917; and 173,929 June11, 1917, to provide a safety razor of the double edged type withadjusting means such that one side may be adjusted to take a light cutat the same time that the other side is adjustedto take a heavy cut, toeliminate all screw threads and other means of adjustment which renderit difficult to keep' a razor or the like in a sanitary condition yandto avoid the necessity of Hexing the cutting blade to secure anadjustment.

aIn the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same embodiment, parts being shown incentral vertical section;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same embodiment, the parts being shownin detached position and certain of the parts being shown in centralvertical section; y

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical central longitudinal section of a portionof the device;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the device with the cap removed, showing :heblade bydot and dash lines in central position;

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6 showing the guard shiftedlaterally relatively to the blade;

Fig. 8 is a view'similar to Figs. 6 and 7 showing the two ends of theguard shifted laterally in opposite directions relatively to the blade;

Fig-9 is an end elevation of the device whden in condition to be placedin a case; an

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the device in the condition ,illustratedin Fig. 9.

The lparticular embodiment of my invention chosen for the- 'purpose ofillustration 1s similar to the embodiments disclosed in my formerapplications above referred to in that it comprises a U-magnet 1, aguard member 2 mounted on the free ends of the U-magnet, and a capmember 3 surmounting the guard member 2 in such manner as to hold acutting blade 4 between the cap and the guard. The magnetic handle 1 ispreferably formed in the shape of a U-magnet as illustrated, inasmuch asthis form affords greater efliciency both in producing magneticattraction as hereinafter described and in serving as a handle foroperating the device.

The present invention is particularly concerned with adjusting the bladeand guard member laterally with respect to each other so that either afine or heavy cut may be taken, or so that an unsymmetrical blade may bebrought into parallelism with the edge of the guard member, and I haveprovided means for adjusting one of the said members, the guard memberin the particular embddiment of the invention illustrated, and thepreferred means is constructed as follows: Cup-.shaped members 6 arearranged' to Vfit over the free ends of the U-shaped magnet and thesemembers are Apreferably slotted so as to have sui'licient resiliency togrip the free ends of the magnet and thereby hold the cup-shaped membersin position thereon. The cup-shaped members are provided at their upperends with disk shaped members 7 each of which is eccentric with respectto the axis of the cup-shaped member upon which it is mounted. While theeccentric members 7 may be formedeither integrally or separately fromthe cup-shaped members 6 they are preferably formed separately andthensecured to members 6 in some suitable manner. As illustrated in thedrawings, .particularly 1n Fig. 5, each cup-shaped menlber 6 is providedWith an upwardly extending collar 8 which tits into an opening in theeccentric member 7 and the outer edge 9 of the extension 8 is spun overthe disk 7.

The guard member 2 is provided With an opening to receive the eccentricmember 7 and the opening in the guard member is preferably provided witha shoulder 11 itting into a peripheral recess in the lower portion ofthe disk 7 under the shoulder 12 of the disk. 1n this Way the parts areheld together so that they have no appreciable movement with respect toeach other in a vertical direction, the upper face of the cup-shapedmember 6 bearing against the lower face of the guard member 2, and theshoulder 12 of the disk engaging the shoulder 11 of the guard member.The upper portion of 4the disk 7 comprising the shoul-v der 12 ispreferably circular in contour but is made eccentric with respect to theaxis of the cup-shaped member 6 as illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8,inclusive. rThe upper portion of the opening in the guard member 2,namely, the portion above the shoulder 11 in which is disposed the upperportion 12 of the disk, is substantially circular in contour but issomewhat elongated. The particular shape illustrated in the drawingscomprises two semi-circular ends joined together by relatively shortstraight sides, the width of the slot in a direction transverse to theguard 'member being equal to the diameter of the upper portion 12 of thedisk and the length being longer than the width by an amount equal tothe length of the straight sides. The lower portion of the opening inthe guard member, namely, that portion surrounded by the shoulder 11 ofthe'guard member 2, may be of any suitable contour but it is preferablymade circular and of suihcient diameter to permit the guard member to beshifted a slight amount in any direction relative to the axis of thecupshaped member 6 in adjusting the guard member as hereinafterdescribed.

The cup-shaped members 6 are itted oveIl the ends of the U-magnet 1until the ends of the magnet engage the bottoms of the cupshaped membersas illustrated in Fig. 3. The blade l is placed in engagement with thecap member 3 with the positioning pins 10 in the cap member iittingthrough the openings 13 in the blade and the cap'member and blade willthen be placed in position on the guard member as illustrated in Fig. 3,the pins 10 fitting into the openings 13 Iin the upper, ends of thecup-shaped member 6 and preferably extending into contact with the endsof the U-magnet so as to form a complete magnetic circuit from theU-magnet through the pins 10 and cap member 3, the pins 10 and cap 3being formed of magnetic material. The magnetic flux flowing throughthis circuit will then hold the parts tightly in the position shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, as described in my former applications. In order toprevent magnetic flux being shunted from the cap member through Lacassethe guard member, either the guard member or the 'cup-shaped members arepreferably made of some non-magnetic material suchas brass, thecup-shaped members preferably being made of brass.

With the parts in this position the guard member lmay be adjustedlaterally of the device by rotating the cup-shaped members 6 on the endsof the U-magnet, the adjustment being effected by virtue of theeccentric diskl 7 swinging about the axes of the cup-shaped members 6and poles of the magnet. 'With the eccentric disks 7 directed eithertoward each other or directly away from each other, they beingillustrated in Fig. 6 as being directed away from leach other, the guardmember extends the same distance in each direction laterally of thecentral longitudinal -plane of the device, as illustrated in Fig. I

6. 1f the blade'is entirely symmetrical With respect to the ,openings 13formed therein, it Will extend equal distances over the teeth of theguard member on each side as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6. 1f it isdesired to adjust the guard` member and blade relatively to each otherso that the blirde will extend a greater or lesser distance out over theteeth of the guard member thereby to obtain a heavier or lighter cut,the cupshaped members 6 are rotated `so that the enlarged portions ofthe eccentric disks 7 are swung about the ,axes ofI the poles of themagnet so as to extend laterally in the same direction. This will forcethe guard member laterally, for example upwardly as illustrated in Fig.7, so that the teeth extend out a greater distance on one side and alesser distance on the other side. The blade and cap member do not movelaterally for the reason that the pins l0 fit into the openings 13 inthe cup-shaped members which are collinear with the axes of 4the poles.It will be obvious that any degree of extension of the teeth of theguard member can be obtained by positioning the disks 7 in the vari ouspositions intermediate the extreme positions shown in Figs. 6 and 7.When the blade extends out over the teeth a relatively great distance, aheavycut may be taken by virtue ofthe fact that the teethare curveddownwardly as illustrated in Fig. 2. As above stated, the opening in thei cannot be corrected. However, with the present invention the guardmember may be shifted laterally with respect to the blade at one end-Without being shifted at the other end, thus shifting the guard memberinto parallelism with the edge ,of the blade. Moreover, the guard membermay be shifted laterally in one direction at one end and in the otherdirection at the otherlend as illustrated in Fig. 8,-thereby to correctfor an excessive degree of asymmetry inthe blade.

In the preferred construction embodying the present invention thecup-shaped members 6 are made integral with the guard, member and withthis arrangement the guard member, blade and cap member may be bodilyseparated from the U-magnet and placed in the position shown in Figs. 9and 10 in which position they occupy a very small space and can bereadily carried in a fiat elongate container which can be readilycarried in a vest pocket or other restricted place.

The magnetic pins 10 which bridge the gaps between the ends of theU-magnet and the cap 3 are considerably smaller in crosssection than themagnet poles, as illustrated in Fig. 3 for example, and this results ina concentration of the ux at the points where it enters the cap. Thuswhere the magnetic lines of force enter the'cap they are confined torelatively small areas and are not permitted to spread out over areasequal to the cross-sectional areas of the magnet poles. This results inthat it is more difficult to dislodge the cap from the magnet due, Ibelieve, to the fact that in pulling one edge of the cap away from theguard, thereby tending to rotate the cap about its other edge, the fluxis not broken gra-dually, as it would be if spread over a relativelybroad area, but is all broken at the same time. For example, if the fluxentered the cap throughout the entire width of the cap and the cap werelifted at one edge only, so as to rotate the cap about its opposite edgebearing on the blade, the magnetic path would not be effectually brokenuntil the cap were lifted at the one side a considerable distanceinasmuch as the flux could reach the cap at the opposite side resting onthe blade. The same action would take place to a lesser extent if,instead of entering the cap throughout the entire width of the cap, theflux entered the cap through a relatively wide area, as for example,throughout the area of the endv of each magnet pole. However, byrestricting the {'luX to a relatively. small area at the center of thecap it lcannot be broken gradually by lifting one edge of the cap butmust all-be broken at the same time. Thus, in shaving, where thetendency is to lift one edge of the blade and cap, the blade and capcannot be so readily dislodged when' the iluX is confined to the regionof the cap.

Moreover,` the blade and cap cannot be so easily dislodged by accidentalcontact'with the end of the blade or cap.

While I have described only the preferred embodiment of my invention itis to be understood that the ideas'involved may be embodied 'in otherfor'ms than herein illustrated, the principal idea being to providemeans for shifting the blade and guard member of a cutting device such'as a safety razor laterally with respect to' each other and preferablyWithout employing any screw' threads or other means which willaccumulate dirt and preferably without flexing th'e blade, it beingobvious that in the preferred construction of my device the blade is atall times clamped firmly between the guard member and the cap memberthroughout its entire extent. v

I claim:

1. A safety razor comprising a guard member, a handle, and eccentricmeans connecting the handle with the guard member, whereby the guardmember may be shifted laterally of the handle.

2. A safety razor comprising a handle, a guard member, and eccentricmeans for connecting the guard member with the handle, the eccentricmeans being rotatively mounted on the handle so as to shift the guardmember laterally. l

3. A safety razor comprising a blade, a.

guard, a handle, and means for mounting l the guard upon the handle,said means being adjustable to shift the guard transversely withoutshifting the blade.

1. A safety razor comprising a blade, a guard, a handle, and means formounting the guard upon the handle, said means having an adjustableeccentric transversely to shift the guard and blade relatively to eachother.

5. A safety razor comprising a blade, a guard, a handle, and meansrotatable on the handle for mounting the guard upon the handle, saidmeans having a concentric portion associated with the blade and aneccentric portion associated with the guard, whereby rotation of saidmeans shifts the guard transversely without shifting the blade.

6. A safety. razor comprising a blade, a guard, a handle, and a caprotatable on the end of the handle for mounting the 'guard upon thehandle, said cap having a concentric portion associated with theJ blade,and

an eccentric portion associated with the riphery of said portion beingeccentric, and a pin concentrically associated with said cap, said pinextending through an opening in the blade, whereby rotation of said capshifts the guard transversely Without shifting the blade.

8. A safety razor comprising a doubleedged blade, a double guard memberadapted to guard the double-edged blade, a handle, and means lforshifting the guard transversely of the handle Without shifting theblade, whereby the guard may be adjusted to permit a heavy cut to betaken Withone side of the blade and a light cut with the other side ofthe blade.

9. A safety razor comprising a doubleedged blade, a dou-ble guard memberadapted to guard the double-edged blade, a handle, and adjustable meansconnecting the handle with the guard whereby to shift the guardtransversely of the handle Without shifting the blade.

10. A safety razor comprising a blade, a guard, a handle, a caprotatably mounted on the end of the handle foi supporting the guard,said cap having an annular portion extending into an opening in theguard, the outer periphery of said 'portion being eccentric and theinner periphery being concentric with the handle, and a pin in theconcentric opening of said annular portion extending into an opening inthe blade, whereby rotation of said cap shifts the guard transverselywithout shifting the blade.

11. A safety razor comprising a guard, a handle, and a cap fitting overthe end of the handle with a portion thereof extending into an openingin the guard, said portion having an outer flange overhanging a portionof the' guard around said opening.

12. A safety razor comprising a guard, a

handle, a member rotatably mounted on the end of the handle forconnecting the guard to the handle, said member having a projectionextending into an opening of the guard, said projection having anannular recess to receive a portion of the guard surrounding saidopening and said projection being eccentric to shift the guardtransversely When said member is rotated.

' 13. A safety razor comprising a guard, a handle, a member rotatablymounted on the end of the handle for connecting the guard to thehandle.v said member having a projection extending into an opening inthe guard, said projection and said opening having outer and innerportions of different diameter, the outer portion of the projectionhaving a greater' diameter than the inner portion of the opening, andone of said portions of the projection being eccentric to shift theguard transversely when said member is rotated.

14. A safety razor comprising a blade, a guard, a handle having spacedportions arranged to support the guard in regions spaced apart along thelength of the guard, and means associated with each of said portions ofthe handle for transversely shifting the guard and blade relatively toeach other, whereby the guard may be alined With the blade.

15. A safety razor comprising a blade, a guard, ay handle having spacedportions arranged to support the guard in regions spaced apart ,alongthe length of the guard, and means associated with each of said portions of the handle for transversely shifting the guard Without shiftingthe blade, Whereby the guard may be alined with the blade.

16. A safety razor comprising a guard, magnetic means disposed onopposite sides of the guard to hold the blade on the guard by magneticattraction, and means of relatively small width forming a magnetic pathbetween said magnetic means on opposite sides of the guard.

17. A safety razor comprising a guard, a magnet on one side of the guardhaving spaced poles, a cap on the other `side of the guard vforming amagnetic path between the regions of saidlpoles, and pins of relativelysmall cross-sectional area extending through the. blade and guard insaid regions, the pins forming magnetic bridges between said poles andsaid cap.

18. A safety razor comprising a guard, a magnet on one side of the guardhaving spaced poles, a cap on the other side of the guard forming amagnetic path between the regions of said poles, and positioningpinsprojecting from the cap through the guard to said poles.

19. A safety razor comprising a guard, a magnet on one side of the guardhaving spaced poles, a cap on the other side of the guard forming amagnetic path between the regions of said poles, and positioning pinsprojecting from the cap through the guard to said poles, said pins beingformed of magnetic material and being relatively small incross-sectional area so as to form a restricted path between said polesand cap for the magnetic flux.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass., this 13th day of August, 1917.

BUTLER AMES.

